Wyoming Cowboys Battle Nevada Tuesday Night

The Wyoming Cowboys broke the losing streak. Head coach Larry Shyatt and Wyoming moved up to second in the conference standings at 20-6 overall and 9-4 in league play after a 77-60 home win over San Jose State on Saturday.

Had the Pokes lost to San Jose, the season would have ended badly. The question every Cowboy fan across Wyoming is "When is Larry Nance Jr. coming back?" The Cowboy's brain trust are being very tight lipped about if and when he is going to return. "Day to day," is the response most given.

The Cowboys have to keep playing. That's a given. They did pretty well against the worst team in the conference. The Cowboys racked up their 20th win of the season, the fastest reaching the mark since 1951-52, and tied an AA single-season record with their 16th win in the building this season.

However...things are not all that rosy. Some one has to step up. One player did Saturday. The University of Wyoming basketball web site said: Junior guard Josh Adams served up a season-high 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds against San Jose State on Saturday. He averages 11.7 points and 3.5 assists per game, but has scored in double figures in 10 of the 11 games Nance has missed over the last three seasons, including five 20-point efforts. He ranks second in the MW in assists and ninth in steals at 1.4.

But it's going to take more. Nevada is no slouch. Wyoming leads the all-time series with Nevada, 12-2, including a 4-1 mark in Reno. The Cowboys earned a 63-55 home win on Jan. 31 in the first meeting between the two programs this season. Four Pokes scored in double figures, including double-doubles from Nance and Cooke in that game.

The Wolf Pack pulled within three with six minutes remaining, but the Cowboys made 11 of their last 14 free throws to hold on. UW led 34-24 in rebounds. The Cowboys bench is going to have to show up to beat Nevada. It's getting near Conference Tournament time. No excuses for poor performances this time of year.